Capitals GM: Urgency exists to win for Ovechkin

1:52 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Va. — There are hints of gray in Alex Ovechkin’s hair now and his 31st birthday is a few months away.

Ovechkin isn’t old, not even in hockey years, and is coming off a 50-goal season. But Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan knows Ovechkin’s prime years as a player won’t last forever, which adds urgency to the team’s push for a Stanley Cup.

After another early playoff exit, MacLellan said it’s up to him and the rest of the front office to make sure Ovechkin’s playoff window doesn’t close too soon.

“Our job is to surround him with a little more depth so there’s not the pressure,” MacLellan said. “I think he can play a lot more if he doesn’t feel that pressure that he needs to win the games. … I think he can play longer given a good team, a deep team. I mean, if you’re going to put pressure on him every night to carry the team, he’s not going to be more excited about playing.”

Nicklas Backstrom (left) and Alex Ovechkin have made the playoffs in eight of their nine seasons together in Washington, yet have failed to reach the third round. “Frustration is probably at a different level with Nick and Ovi,” GM Brian MacLellan said. Greg Fiume/NHLI/Getty Images

That’s what the Detroit Red Wings did 20 years ago for Steve Yzerman, the face of that franchise and who like Ovechkin shouldered the blame for a lack of playoff success. Yzerman finally won the Cup in his 14th season at the age of 32 and finished with his name on the trophy three …

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